Page 21 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“I will. Thanks for stopping in.”

“And thank you for making my morning.” Isabella took another sip of her drink, savoring her latte.

She turned to leave as Nova Emerson entered the café. Nova’s face lit up with surprise. “You’re back?”

Isabella nodded. “I’m back.”

“Do you have a minute, or do you need to rush out?” Nova asked.

“No rush. I was just going to find a table to drink this.” Isabella held up her cup.

“You snag us seats. I’m gonna get some coffee and meet you there.” Nova walked past toward a waiting Remy at the counter.

Isabella found a small table by the window overlooking Main Street. The Oyster Bookstore sat opposite, right next to Shattered Cove Records. So many other boutiques and small businesses lined this street. A feeling of nostalgia passed over her.

“Are you all settled in?” Nova asked, sitting across from her.

Isabella gave a sarcastic laugh. “As settled as one can be in a tiny apartment with both parents at thirty years old.”

Nova’s brows pulled together. “Oh, yeah. I couldn’t do it. I love my mother but . . .”

“But sometimes you need your own space so you can get along with her too,” Isabella finished for her.

“Absolutely.” Nova sipped her coffee. “Are you looking for a place to rent or buy?”

“I’d like to rent first. I had wanted to wait, but I don’t think I can stay at my parents’ much longer. It isn’t fair to make my son sleep in a glorified storage closet either.”

“Move in with me.”

“What?”

Nova nodded. “I have a big ol’ house to myself. It’s three bedrooms. How old is your son again?”

“He’s twelve.”

“He’ll have a blast on the farm. My parents do family meetups every weekend with outdoor movies in the summer and dinners, and if he likes animals, we’ve got plenty of those too,” Nova said.

“You . . . you’re serious?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t offer otherwise.”

A flutter of excitement danced in her belly. A chance to get out of her parents’ small flat? Space for Eli to explore? It sounded too good to be true. “I couldn’t impose. I have Eli and . . . and I’m actually pregnant.”

“Oh.” Nova’s gaze dropped to Isabella’s stomach. “Well, that’s not a problem for me.”

“Nova, are you . . . I don’t want to be in the way.”

Her friend waved her hand. “Pshhh, you wouldn’t be. In all honesty, you’d be getting my mom off my back for a bit. She’s always on my case about living alone. I mean, we’re all on the same damn property. If you ask her, it’s like I’m a hermit, two states away. And don’t get me started on her subtle hints of dating. Seriously, you would buy me some time.”

“Really?”

Nova took another drink and leaned forward, her brown eyes glinting. “Besides, I owe you.”

“For what?”

“Back in high school. You protected me from those Barbie bitches.”

A foggy memory of stepping between a young freshman Nova and a few nasty juniors solidified in her mind. “Oh, really, you don’t owe me for that.”

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